E-board acceleration foot support

ABSTRACT

An inclined support apparatus, integrated to an E-board, providing a rider stability during acceleration and/or deceleration as the apparatus more effectively compensates the forces from the motorization of the E-board, allowing the rider to distribute more normal force on a rear or front foot. The inclined support apparatus may be removably attached and adjustable to the board. The apparatus comprises a body having a plurality of inclined, contoured sections at the top surface of the body. The inclined sections may include at least a main inclined section along at least a length of the body. The support apparatus may comprise at least one contoured section in the top surface, such as a concave depression, so as to provide the rider a means to better react to longitudinal acceleration forces along the natural shape of the rider&#39;s foot and to have a more upright, athletic stance while riding.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority based upon U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/711,513, filed on Jul. 28,2018 in the name of the same inventor, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated into the present application by reference.

FIELD

The exemplary embodiment(s) of the present invention relates to thefield of electric skateboards (E-boards), and more particularly toproviding rider stability while using an E-board. The exemplaryembodiments of the present invention relate to an E-board foot support.

BACKGROUND

E-boards are motorized skateboards that give the rider the ability toaccelerate and decelerate without the rider needing to kick the ground.It should be noted that while moving longitudinally in a givendirection, acceleration can occur in both the positive and negativedirections of motion. Deceleration can be used to describe accelerationsin the opposite direction relative to the state of motion i.e. braking.Also, acceleration can occur laterally while traveling at a given speedin a curved path. Gas motorized skateboards have been around as early as1975, but modern E-boards with electric motors originated in the late1990s as battery technology advanced. E-boards gained widespreadawareness among consumers peaking around 2012 but it took up untilrecent years, 2017-2018, for E-boards to become popularly used andcommonly seen in public. The E-board market is still relatively youngand continuously growing with several startups flooding the new consumermarket. Companies are still busy with marketing the product to thepublic as a cool, fun, and useful means of transportation around citiesand campuses, helping to solve the last-mile dilemma for commuting aswell as provide a new sport for pleasure riding. Companies are primarilyfocused on providing lower cost, higher quality boards with longerriding range, higher power motor outputs, and easier user-interfacecontrols. Also, with recent spike in the use of E-boards in dense urbanareas, certain major cities are calling into question the regulation andsafety of E-boarders on public streets. Because focus is on otheraspects of the E-board performance and compliance, there are manyunaddressed design/functional issues regarding E-board rider stabilityduring operation.

The majority of modern electric skateboards have a top speed of 20-25mph with various speed modes ranging from light eco-cruising to peakmotor performance (˜2000+ Watts). E-boards are typically operated withhand-held remote that controls the desired direction mode, forward orbackward, and the desired speed with a throttle. Typically, positivethrottle will speed the rider up and negative throttle will slow therider down in whichever their current direction mode is set to. Thiscapability is achieved by the E-board's DC motor being able to expendpower from the battery to propel and harness power to the battery inorder to brake. The braking functionality is often referred to asregenerative braking which resists the state of motion, converting thekinetic energy of the wheels spinning into useful energy stored backinto the battery while consequently decelerating the board.

On a traditional (non-motorized) skateboard, a rider manually uses oneof their two feet to kick on or slide against the ground to accelerateor decelerate while keeping the unused foot on top of the board's deck.Because of this traditional method, rider stability on the deck was notan issue because the act of kicking or sliding on the ground requireddynamic, coordinated movement of the feet and body. Stability dependedon the rider's ability to perform the actions skillfully. With amotorized skateboard, however, the rider does not need to move theirfeet off the board's deck during motion at constant speed, accelerationor deceleration. Because acceleration and deceleration are controlled bythe hand-held remote controls, riders now need to maintain their formand stability with both feet planted on the board's deck whilenavigating terrain. Therefore, a rider will need to be able to quicklyand frequently start and stop throughout the ride since E-Boardingcommonly takes place on paved surfaces—i.e. city streets, bike lanes,sidewalks or walking trails—with other motor or foot traffic.

It is common in any skateboard design to use a layer of a grip tapeadhered to the top of the deck in order to help the rider's feet stayplanted. This grip tape relies on static friction shear forceinteractions with the bottom of the rider's shoes. For a givencombination of two materials, the frictional force is directlyproportional to the normal force applied at the material interface.

Due to the high power output of the motors, the rider must lean theirbody into the direction of desired longitudinal motion in order to reactthe forces from the E-board's motors. If the rider does not lean enoughand/or accelerates or decelerates too quickly, it is not uncommon forthe rider's momentum to carry/throw them off the board. However byleaning, the rider must decrease the normal force on their shoe that isopposite to the direction of the lean, thus reducing the static frictionthreshold on that foot with the grip tape.

For the case of the E-board accelerating straight forward on a flatsurface, the rider leans forward, reducing the normal force on theirrear foot. The rear foot is also the only foot that uses a normal forceto counteract the moments from the board about the rider's body centerof gravity (CG). So, when the rider leans forward it is a tradeoffbetween losing rear foot normal force and increasing their effectivemoment arm between their rear foot and their CG to react to a givenapplied moment from the E-board's acceleration. Therefore, the rearfoot, in this situation, loses a lot of effectiveness for the rider tostabilize and hold themselves longitudinally on the E-board duringacceleration. When riding on a sloped surface (a hill) this problem isexacerbated further requiring the rider to lean forward or compensatetheir stance's leg angles more than if they were on a flat surface.

Currently, E-boards lack a design that would provide proper foot supportand stability during acceleration or deceleration while still providingthe same freedom as traditional skateboards with the rider being able toeasily move their feet anywhere on, off or along the deck unrestricted.

Common torque blocks for non-motorized longboards are intended to aid arider in a forward, crouched stance. The torque block is commonly usedfor highspeed downhill riding at speeds between 40 mph to up to 80 mph.Because of the downhill rider's aggressive speeds, rider stance mustalso become aggressive with rear foot position. The block rests beneathonly the rear foot where the rear foot is parallel to the direction offorward motion allowing the heel to be lifted off the block in the airwhile the toes/ball of the foot grip the block (similar to the setposition of a track runner's foot on a metal starting block). Due to thehighspeed downhill longboarding application, a torque block is a simple,straight-cut wedge with a uniform, flat inclined plane.

While foot stops also exist, neither do they solve the problemsassociated with facilitating the E-boarder's upright stance nor toeffectively counter the acceleration and deceleration forces of electricskateboarding. Common foot stops for non-motorized skateboards exist buthave various shortcomings and inadequacies. Foot stops are used forhigh-speed downhill application to aid various extreme maneuvers. Therider does not step on the foot stop, but instead the side of therider's foot abuts the vertical wall of foot stop. The first intent ofthe foot stop is for foot location consistency, so the rider easilyknows their foot's position and orientation on the deck without havingto take their eyes off the road to look at their feet while at speed.The second intent of the foot stop is for providing extra sidewaysreaction force to prevent (stop) the rider's foot from slipping off thedeck because depending on rider skill, the grip tape's friction is notsufficient. Two instances where sideways foot slippage is most likely tooccur are during corners and during long-distance-pumping (LDP) motions.In corners, the rider is in a crouched, in low stance often sliding onegloved hand on the pavement for added stabilization and/or using onehand to hold the side of the deck. This causes the rider's legs to be atsharp acute angles to their deck, prone to slippage. In LDP, the ridersharply turns their board while at speed in a “hockey stop” motion,causing their wheels to slide sideways instead of roll. Again, often onegloved hand is placed on the pavement for added stabilization as theypump their board sideways from under their upper body. LDP helps a riderreduce speed on long straightaways and to speed check themselves beforecorner entry. Foot stops are typically small in size so the rider cankeep their feet as close to being over the trucks as possible providingless leverage to pivot the truck's hanger, which is beneficial at highspeeds where smooth, minor turns are needed. Since foot stops areintended to abut to the side of the foot for the followingaforementioned reasons, such foot stops would not help to facilitate theE-boarders upright stance since they are not intended to rest as anincline beneath the foot during motorized skateboard motion. So ankleroll and corresponding muscle fatigue still occur with foot stops.

There are also standard binding-cups and foot straps which are typicallyused for off-road (dirt) riding involving jumps or more aggressiveriding so that the board is firmly secured beneath the rider's feet atall times. However, since these binding-cups and foot straps go over thetop of the rider's feet they restrict the rider's foot to being setup ina fixed location and angle. This limits the rider's ability to changetheir riding stance (feet, legs, body) while riding. Also, to removetheir feet from binding-cups and foot straps, the rider must use theirhands to unstrap a buckle or undergo awkward motions to slide their footback out of the strap/binding cup. This aspect can be very unsafe whileriding when the rider needs to quickly bail off the E-board during afall or trying to avoid a collision.

Therefore, it is desirable to have an inclined/contoured/angled supportsection that is permanently (requiring destructive force to the board tomodify, install or remove) or separately (requiring no destruction tothe board to modify, install or remove) integrated to the deck of theE-board for a rider to better react the acceleratory forces at theirfeet during motion and to facilitate a comfortable upright E-boarderstance during navigation and turning.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention serve to provide E-board ridersstability during acceleration or deceleration, or some combination ofthe aforementioned scenarios. A rider typically needs to lean forward orbackward longitudinally to compensate for induced moments from themotorized board about the rider's center of gravity. The inclined footsupport helps the rider in reacting to accelerations by providing asurface that tilts the sole-plane's normal vector of their back or frontfoot more into the direction of acceleration for improved stance,comfort, and grip. The inclined foot support also helps the riderdistribute weight on their feet while going up and down hills becausethe inclined support naturally becomes a more horizontal surfacerelative to the sloped surface, which lessens the degree that the anklemust be angled. Going uphill the rear foot benefits while converselygoing downhill the front foot benefits with added stability. The primaryfocus of this inclined support is for compensating the forces from themotorization aspects of the E-board. However, for the case of theE-board accelerating while cornering, the inclined support could becontoured in order to provide a secondary means for better reacting tothe lateral acceleration forces at the rider's toes or heels, dependingon a left or right corner. This in turn has the advantage offacilitating the rider of the E-board to have an upright, athleticstance with a more desirable ankle angle relative to the lower leg.

Currently, E-board riders typically need to keep both feet flat on thedeck while leaning into the direction of acceleration. The accelerationsbring their shoe's closer to the grip tape's static frictional forcethreshold and could result in foot slippage or ankle roll, if too muchpower is demanded from the motors, and/or poor steering control frombeing off balance while trying to lean. The angled foot support of thepresent invention will therefore allow the rider to distribute morenormal force on their rear or front foot during longitudinalacceleration or deceleration, respectively.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the inclined supportmaintains the rider's unrestrictive foot movement on and off the deckeasily and also any direction of foot movement relative to the deck atall foot locations of the useable deck area. The inclined support shouldbe integrated to the deck so its useable portion is inboard of the truckmounts (trucks). The inclined support's attachment location is intendedto maintain contact of all wheels firmly on the ground while the riderpresses against the support during motorized operation(acceleration/deceleration). The inclined support of the presentinvention is configured for E-board motors that are controlled by a handcontroller (not by any foot sensor technology).

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inclinedsupport apparatus is integrated to a motorized board, providing a riderstability during acceleration and during deceleration on sloped and flatsurfaces, configured to receive foot pressure by the rider at a topsurface of the support apparatus. According to the embodiment, thesupport apparatus comprises: a support body having a top surface, abottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a first edge and asecond edge. The first and second edges define a length of the supportbody and wherein the left side and right side edge define a width of thesupport body. The support body comprises at least one inclined sectionat the top surface along the length of the support body, wherein abeginning of the inclined section begins nearer to the first edge andinclines toward the second edge, and at least one concave depressionwithin the inclined section; and wherein the first edge is a leadingedge that is positioned closer to a center of the board than the secondedge which faces an end of the board. Furthermore, a side viewthickness-profile of the board, measured where the inclined support bodyis integrated to the board's shape, is larger than a side viewthickness-profile measured along a majority of a length of the board.

According to preferred embodiments, the inclined support can beremovably mountable as a single part, static body which may beconveniently installed using any number of the previously existing holesof that the board uses to attach to the trucks. In an alternativepreferred embodiment, the support may have a multi-part, static bodydesign. In an alternative embodiment, the inclined support may have arider-adjustable body design.

These features, advantages and other embodiments of the presentinvention are further made apparent, in the remainder of the presentdocument, to those of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The exemplary aspects of the present invention will be understood morefully from the detailed description given below and from theaccompanying drawings of various embodiments of the invention, which,however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specificembodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a rear inclined support, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top, left perspective view of the rear inclined support ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed diagram of the rear inclined support showing oneexample of specific angles and dimensions in its design, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the rear inclined support of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a front cross-sectional view of the rear inclined support ofFIG. 1, taken at the B-B line of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the rear inclined support to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a front inclined support which is smaller thanthe rear inclined support in its incline and size, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top, left perspective view of the front inclined support ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a detailed diagram of the primary contact incline section ofthe front inclined support showing one example of specific angles anddimensions in its design, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the front inclined support of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8A is a front cross-sectional view of the front inclined support ofFIG. 5, taken at the A-A line of FIG. 8B.

FIG. 8B is a top plan view of the front inclined support to FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a top, left, front perspective view of an E-board with a frontand rear inclined support setup, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 is a top, left, rear perspective view of the E-board with thefront and rear inclined support setup of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a front view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of FIG. 9 showing key foot regions, accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14A illustrates a perspective view of a conventional E-board riderstance during forward acceleration.

FIG. 14B is a top plan view of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14C is a side view of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14D is a rear view of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14E illustrates an E-board rider stance during forward accelerationon front and rear inclined supports according to embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14F is a top pan view of FIG. 14E.

FIG. 14G is a side view of FIG. 14E.

FIG. 14H is a rear view of FIG. 14E.

FIG. 14I illustrates a front view of a conventional E-board rider stanceduring uphill acceleration.

FIG. 14J illustrates an E-board rider stance during uphill accelerationon front and rear incline supports according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of FIG. 9 with foot placement indicators,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a top, left, front perspective view of an E-board with only arear inclined support setup, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a top plan view of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the components of a rearinclined support with partial view of an E-board, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of front inclined foot support for a leftfoot forward rider with adjustment slots, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of a rear inclined support with adjustmentslots attached to partial tail end view of an E-board, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a rear inclined support with adjustmentslots attached to partial tail end view of an E-board, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the inclinedsupport with adjustment slots, attached to the E-board, taken throughthe bolts and with top cap attached, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of FIG. 22 with top cap attached,according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of an E-board with a front and rear inclinedsupport setup with top caps attached and illustrating foot placementindicators, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25A is a top perspective view of a rear inclined support withadjustment slots, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25B is a side view of FIG. 25A.

FIG. 25C is a front view of FIG. 25A.

FIG. 25D is a top plan view of FIG. 25A.

FIG. 25E is a front cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the A-Aline of FIG. 25D.

FIG. 25F is a top perspective view of a front inclined support withadjustment slots, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25G is a front view of FIG. 25F.

FIG. 25H is a top plan view of FIG. 25F.

FIG. 25I is a front cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the A-Aline of FIG. 25H.

FIG. 25J is a right side view of FIG. 25F.

FIG. 25K is a left side view of FIG. 25F.

FIG. 26 is a top, left front perspective view of a multi-part supportattached to a partial view of an E-board, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 27 is an exploded side view of the components of the multi-partsupport with partial view of an E-board, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 28 is a side elevational view of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a top, left, rear perspective view of the multi-part supportattached to a partial view of an E-board of FIG. 26.

FIG. 30 illustrates a top, left perspective view of a rear basecomponent without any support incline attached to a partial view of anE-board with a foot placement indicator, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 31 is a top plan view of a multi-part support attached to anE-board with foot placement indicators, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 32 is an exploded top perspective view of the components of themulti-part support with partial view of the E-board, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the components of themulti-part support with partial view of the E-board, according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 illustrates a side view of an inclined support having a curvedbottom surface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a top plan view of an inclined support with a patterned topsurface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 35.

FIG. 37 is a side cross-sectional view thereof, taken along the AA-AAline of FIG. 36.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the following detailed description is to provide anunderstanding of one or more embodiments of the present invention. Thoseof ordinary skills in the art will realize that the following detaileddescription is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any waylimiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to suchskilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure and/ordescription.

Various embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawingsmay not be drawn to scale. Rather, the dimensions of the variousfeatures may be expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some ofthe drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings may notdepict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., device) ormethod. The same reference indicators will be used throughout thedrawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same orlike parts.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a foot support apparatus for the rear of the board(tail side), hereinafter referred to as a rear inclined support 1,according to an embodiment of the present invention. The rear inclinedsupport 1 has a wedge-shaped body with two fastener receivingholes/openings 2 at a top surface 3 to be used to fasten the inclinedsupport 1 to an E-board. The illustration shows an example support 1utilizing two different angles to create a contact incline sectionincreasing from a leading edge 4 toward the end edge 5. The inclinedsupport 1 begins from the front/leading edge 4 with first segment 6 at asmaller angle of about 13 to 16 degrees and then widens to about 23 to26 degrees at a second segment 7. The angled segments can be modified toaccommodate rider's preference and stability and, additional segments ofthe support may include different angles, shapes or contours. It iscontemplated that the exact angle of inclination, Θ, from the leadingedge 4 may span from 0<Θ<180 degrees. In preferred embodiments, theangle of inclination of the support 1 is estimated around 10 to 30degrees, or a combination at different parts of the support 1.

The dimensions of the inclined support 1 can also be manufactured tosuit a rider's preference. In particular, the width 8, length 9, andheight 10 of the support 1 can all be varied. As shown in the FIG. 2,along the length 9 of the support there is a change in incline. Theoverall length 9 is comprised of a relatively horizontal length offastening section 9A and a length of the contact incline section 9B. Asfurther shown in FIG. 3, according to an embodiment, the length of thecontact incline section 9B of the support 1 may extend approximately 3to 7 inches from the front/leading edge 4; and the height 10 measured atthe end edge 5 may be approximately 1 inch to 2 inches. The overalllength 9 of the support body may be approximately 6 to 10 inches; andthe fastening section 9A approximately 3 to 5 inches. The contour of thesupport 1 may be selected based on rider preference and shape of therider's deck. According to an embodiment, the leading edge may beginwith a height of about 0.10 inch before ascending.

FIG. 4 shows the front view of the rear support 1 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The front view further illustratesthe raised side lips 15A and 15B at an angle of about 7 degrees to reacha height of about 0.10 inch at each side at the leading edge. As shownin FIG. 4A which is a cross sectional view taken along the B-B line ofFIG. 4B (the top plan view of the support 1), the raised side lips 15A,15B have an angle of inclination of about 7 degrees with respect to thehorizontal bottom surface. These contours on the sides of the support 1help provide more responsiveness to the rider's movements during turninitiation and stability during turn progression by cupping the rider'sfoot inwards to the board's centerline, providing more comfort. Asymmetric, pair of off-center cupped portions 14 (concave depressions)are contoured at a depth into the top surface of the contact inclinesection beginning from the leading edge 4. In an embodiment, the pair ofcupped portions 14 are symmetrically positioned on the support. Forexample, the cupped portions 14 are laterally opposite each other. Thecupped portions 14 depress in a concave direction into the top surfaceof the support, such that no part of the cupped portion's contoursextend higher than the tallest, steepest inclined plane at the topsurface. This symmetric cupping feature of the rear support 1 helpfacilitate either a left or right foot for the rider to maintain acomfortable, upright, stable stance during the E-board's accelerationand deceleration motions.

The static support may exist in multiple combinations/options as a fixedshape/design for simplicity; however, a rider adjustable inclinedsection could be designed for the rider to tune their desired angle ofsupport. However, this rider adjustable inclined section may end upbeing too complicated and over built for most users.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate a foot support apparatus for the front of the board(nose), hereinafter referred to as a front inclined support 20,according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows thefront inclined support 20 includes a wedge-shaped body with two fastenerreceiving holes/openings 22 at the top surface 23 to be used to fastenthe inclined support 20 to an E-board. The illustration shows an examplefront inclined support 20 utilizing two different angles to create acontact incline section increasing from a leading edge 24 toward an endedge 25. As shown in FIG. 7 the front inclined support 20 begins with afirst segment 26 at a smaller angle of about 10 degrees and then widensto about 16 degrees at a second segment 27. The angles can be modifiedto accommodate rider preference and stability and additional segments ofthe support may include different angles.

The dimensions of the front inclined support 20 can also be manufacturedto suit rider preference. Specifically, the width 28, length 29, andheight 30 can all be adjusted. As shown in the FIG. 6, along the length29 of the support there is a change in incline. The overall length 29 iscomprised of a relatively horizontal lengths of fastening section 29Aand a length of the contact incline section 29B. As further shown inFIG. 7, according to an embodiment, the length of the contact inclinesection 29B of the support 20 may extend approximately 2 inches to 5inches from the leading edge 24; and the height 30 measured at the endedge 25 may be approximately 0.5 inch to 1.5 inch. According to anembodiment, the leading edge 24 may begin with a height of about 0.10inch before ascending.

FIG. 8 further shows the front view of the front inclined support 20. Asillustrated, an off-center cupped portion 33 (concave depression), iscontoured into the top surface and relatively based on rider's frontfoot choice. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the support 20is designed for a rider having a right foot forward (goofy) stance.Similarly, for left foot forward (regular) stance the front foot supportwould be a left-right-hand mirror about the major axis of the board. Inpractice, the rider's front foot's toes are slightly clocked (angled)into the direction of motion, anywhere from 5 to 30 degrees fromperpendicular (See further in FIG. 15). This angle, hereinafter referredto as the clocking angle 18. As shown in FIG. 8A which is a crosssectional view taken along the A-A line of FIG. 8B (the top plan view ofthe support 20), the raised side lips 17A, 17B have different angles ofinclination of about 7 degrees and about 3 degrees respectively on eachside edge 21A, 21B, with respect to the horizontal bottom surface 48.This directionality in the contours of the front support 20, for examplethe location of the cupped portion 33, helps conform the support 20 tothe ball position of the rider's foot. The side profile of the frontfoot from the ball to the heel is supported by having the swept clockingangle 18 section along the width 28 of the front support 20 that extendsup the top surface over the entire length of the incline section 29B. Asshown in FIG. 8B the leading edge of the front support 20 that is angledtoward the cupped portion 33 by a clocking angle 18 of about 12 degreesinward from the lateral (horizontal) axis aligned with the outermostpoint of the leading/front edge 24. The side lip angle 17B at this outerfacing side (right side) is less than the side lip angle 17A at thefoot's inner facing side due to the clocking angle's 18 sweep up theincline's length (i.e. 17A is at the left side edge 21A for aright-foot-forward stance). Similarly, if the front support isconfigured for regular stance (left foot forward stance), the right-sidelip angle 17B would be steeper than the left side lip angle 17A. Similarto the cupping feature of the rear support 1, the contouring and cuppedportion 33 of the front support 20 help facilitate the rider to maintaina comfortable upright stance during the E-board's acceleration anddeceleration motions.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate a rear inclined support 1 and front inclinedsupport 20 removably installed toward the tail 102 and nose 103 of thedeck 101 of a full E-board 100 respectively. In this embodiment, therear and front inclined supports 1, 20 are positioned inboard of therear truck 104 and front truck 105. The directional arrows indicate thedirection of forward acceleration. Deceleration would be in the oppositedirection of the arrows. The rear inclined support 1 and front inclinedsupport 20 can be made to have different angles, shapes and sizeddepending on the rider's preference. In other embodiments, eithersupport may be sloped in multiple directions combined, i.e. slopedacross the width in addition to the slope along the length of the boardto better mold to the natural shape of the rider's sole and so that therider's feet can be at an angle non-perpendicular angle to the directionof motion. This would suit riders who ride with a regular, goofy, duckstance, forward parallel stance or combination of the stances witheither of their feet.

According to embodiments, the width 8, 28 of the support 1, 20 may spanthe majority or all of the width of the deck to provide the rider withthe maximum angled foot holding that their deck offers. The width 8, 28of the support 1, 20 could be larger than the deck width (overhangingthe deck's edge) however this could be a hindrance to the rider whileturning and lacking proper support without the deck beneath the inclinedmaterial. Due to the thousands of deck shapes, a standard/manufacturedsupport design could have a slight overhang from the deck that istolerable.

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of a removably attached front supportincline 20 installed on an E-board deck 101. FIG. 12 illustrates a rearview of the removably attached rear support incline 1 installed on theE-board deck 101. FIGS. 13-14 illustrate the respective top plan viewand side view of a removably installed rear inclined support 1 and frontinclined support 20 on the E-board. As shown in the top plan view ofFIG. 13, placement of the inclined supports 1, 20 targets the keyregions 43, 44 of the board (dashed circles) where the rider's feet havethe most leverage for tilting the board about the truck's kingpin axisduring a turn. E-boards are predominantly about maneuverability at low(25 mph or less) speeds with all four wheels in rolling contact with theground with frequent starts/stops and tight turns—unlike high speeddownhill long boarding. The front foot is primarily used for initiatingturn entry and the front foot is usually at a forward clocking anglewhile the back foot is perpendicular to the board (as shown by footindicators in FIG. 15) which is why the front foot region 44 is slightlylarger than the rear foot region 43.

To better illustrate the conventional E-board rider's stances duringforward acceleration without use of any inclined support, see FIGS.14A-D. As shown, the rider must lean into the direction of acceleration,moving their center of mass (roughly at their belly button) over thefront truck/nose of the deck (see FIG. 14B). Since most of the weight ison the front foot during this lean, the rear foot has less force goingto it, so there is less normal force pressing against the deck,resulting in a reduced friction holding force for the rear foot againstthe grip tape on the deck i.e. less stability. Usually the rear leg isstraight with the knee locked out in order to accommodate such a forwardlean, as shown in FIG. 14C. In such a conventional E-board rider stance,since there are no supports, the rider's feet are flat against the topsurface of the deck and this causes the rear ankle to accommodate at adramatic angle difference between the bottom face of the rear footrelative to the lower leg shin bone. This dramatic angle causes anuncomfortable riding position leading to rider fatigue in the ankle andsupporting muscles. The front leg must be bent in order to accommodatesuch a lean. It is therefore problematic and awkward to engage the frontfoot in this position to initiate a turn since the center of mass isdirectly above the front foot, leading to a potentially unstable, wobblysteering scenario since only one (front) foot is engaged with thesteering effort.

For comparative purposes, FIGS. 14E-H minor the views of FIGS. 14A-Dexcept each stance now reflects the use of a rear support 1 and frontsupport 20 on the E-board during forward acceleration, according toembodiments of the present invention. While the rider still slightlyleans into direction of acceleration; the center of mass isadvantageously moved less forward than without supports 1, 20 (see FIG.14F). The rider's center of mass is in-between their two feet leading toa more centered, athletic stance with both front and rear leg's beingbent at the knees. This more upright stance is closer to how anon-motorized skateboard rider would casually stand on their board whilegliding with both feet on the deck. With both knees bent, the rider canpress outward against the front 20 and rear foot support 1 to helpstabilize their body in a more centered position, having the ability topush their body forward or back, distributing their weight more evenlybetween the front and rear foot, which helps the rider initiate turnseasier as well. As further shown in FIG. 14F, the force going down therear leg is transferred more normally into the support's 1 inclinedsurface, relying less on friction forces. The foot support 1 helps therear ankle accommodate either a smaller or zero angle between the bottomface of the rear foot relative to the lower leg (see FIG. 14G). Thereduced angle for the rear ankle results in more stability and morerider comfort, i.e. less fatigue.

To better illustrate the conventional E-board rider's stance whenaccelerating uphill, without use of any inclined support, see FIG. 14I.It is clear that all of the stability and comfort issues associated withforward acceleration are exaggerated when moving uphill. In addition toa rider shifting their center of mass forward over the nose of the deck,the rider typically must also lower their center of mass closer to theground to accommodate the hill's slope causing a larger ankle anglebetween the bottom of their foot sole and lower leg. Sometimes the ridercannot physically accommodate that angle with keeping their rear footsole flat against the deck (parallel to the hill's slope) which eitherrequires to tilt their sole on its inside edge or rotate (clock) theirrear foot forward. In either situation, this reduces the frictional holdon the rider's rear foot with a narrower or smaller contact patchinstead of the full area of their sole. This need to further leanforward while on a hill also causes the front knee to be bent more. Thisleaning position causes not only the rear ankle and supporting musclesto become fatigued but also the front leg's muscles since the rider mustbe more crouched while powering the motors uphill.

For comparative purposes, FIG. 14J illustrates the rider's stance whenaccelerating uphill with the use of inclined supports 1, 20 on theE-board. With the foot supports 1, 20, the rider's rear foot is restingagainst a more horizontal (or perfectly horizontal) surface on thesupport's top face (depending on the grade of the hill and angle of thesupport's main incline). The rider's rear leg is more vertical while thefront leg is less bent. This helps keep the rider in a more upright,relaxed, athletic riding position with their legs while powering themotors uphill.

For purposes of understanding how the rider would ride the board withinclined supports 1, 20, FIG. 15 is illustrated showing foot placementindicators 40, 42 to identify where feet would hypothetically bepositioned on the board 101. It is tested and envisioned that mostriders will place their feet partially or fully engaged with these footsupports at all times while riding. In this embodiment, the rear andfront inclined supports 1, 20 are positioned inboard of the trucks 104,105, inclusive of directly over the trucks 104, 105. The directionalarrows indicate the direction of forward acceleration. As discussedabove, the rider's front foot's toes are slightly clocked into thedirection of motion, anywhere from 5 to 30 degrees from perpendicular,as illustrated by foot placement indicator 42. The front foot support 20is shown for a rider who has a right foot forward (goofy) stance.Similarly, for left foot forward (regular) stance the front foot support20 would be mirrored about the major axis of the board.

FIGS. 16-18 illustrate varying perspective views of a removablyinstalled rear inclined support 1 setup on the E-board. Theillustrations show how an E-board can be equipped with just therear-inclined support setup due to various rider preference reasons. Inthis embodiment, the rear inclined support 1 is positioned inboard or infront of the rear truck 104. Again, the directional arrows indicate thedirection of forward acceleration.

The placement of either inclined support 1, 20 along the length of theboard deck depends on the deck shape and where the rider prefers toplace their feet while riding. In a preferred embodiment, the support 1,20 is most advantageously placed within the wheelbase, i.e. the rider'sfeet remain inboard of the trucks 104, 105, as their feet would normallybe located while riding without this support. Since causing the rider'sfoot to be placed outside the truck mounts would cause that foot'sreaction force to help pivot the deck about that truck's wheels. Placingthe inclined section of the support 1, 20 so that the rider's feet whenusing this support are on top or outboard of the trucks would also be apotential clearance issue for most E-board's since the support 1, 20 andrider's foot would be directly above or closer to the wheels, thereby itwould be more likely for rider's feet to contact the spinning wheelswhile turning sharply. Alternatively, as some boards do have setups thatfully cover the front or rear wheels, the support 1, 20 could be placedon top or outboard of the trucks 104, 105 (but such a setup would be atthe riders' discretion due to the undesired wheel clearance, awkwardstance position and the wheelie or flipping action induced by reactingtheir foot outboard of the wheels).

FIG. 19 illustrates an exploded view of a rear inclined support 1 andthe components that fasten the support 1 to the E-board's deck 101 andtruck 104. The fastening method utilizes the existing holes on the deckthrough which the trucks are fastened to the deck, therefore, installingthe inclined supports 1, 20 do not require any further or permanentmodification, such as drilling new holes or using wood screws, to theexisting deck. As illustrated, support 1 is installed above the deck andattached to the deck and truck 104 using two bolts 11, two inserts 12,and two bolt retention nuts 13. The inserts 12 are part of a strongermaterial to withstand the preload from the bolt, providing a more rigidbolted stack compared to that if the bolt gripped to the inclinedsupport material; also may be referred to as T-hats. This embodimentillustrates one method of fastening the support 1 body to the E-boardand is not necessarily the only method of attachment as other securingmeans are contemplated. In this embodiment, the rear inclined support 1is positioned inboard or in front of the rear truck 104. The samefastening method may be used to removably attach the front support 20 tothe E-board deck and/or truck. The attachment method may be any methodincluding structural hardware, fasteners, adhesives, hook and loop, orsome other intricate/simple fastening or interlocking mechanism andcombinations thereof, which allow for secure attachment of the supportto the E-board, without loosening during riding, and may also bepermanently integrated or removably integrated so that when the riderdesires to uninstall the support without damage to the deck.

FIG. 20 illustrates a top plan view of a front inclined support 35 for aregular stance (left foot forward rider), according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. This support 35 also has one or more adjustmentslots 37 instead of fixed receiving hole 22 positions as an option forriders to have more customizability to the longitudinal positioning ofthe support 35 on the board to accommodate different stance widths.

To further illustrate a version of the support with customizable andadjustable longitudinal positioning, FIGS. 21 and 22 are a top plan viewand perspective view of a rear inclined support 36 with adjustment slots37 attached to partial tail end view of an E-board, according to anembodiment of the present invention. The rear support 36 may comprises acavity 34 inside which the adjustment slots 37 are located recessedinside the cavity 34. The rear support 36 is attached to the board bybolts/screws 11 inserted in respective slotted inserts 32 which surroundthe slots 37. The slotted inserts 32 have openings which correspond tothe length of the slots 37. It is contemplated that the one or moreadjustment slots 37, while shown as continuous, may instead beconfigured as a set of multiple discrete holes. In other embodiments,the adjustment slots 37 or discrete holes may be configured toaccommodate lateral adjustment of the support 35, i.e. positioned in thewidth-wise direction.

FIG. 23 is a partial cross-sectional view along the A-A line of FIG. 22further including a top cap 38 which seals the cavity 34 and rests flushwith the top surface 39 of the support 36. In this embodiment, the topcap 38 covers the bolts/screws 11 and slotted inserts 32. The slottedinserts 32 contact the deck (top surface) of the board 101 and thebolts/screws 11 are screwed into the existing deck/truck openings on theboard through the slots 37 and inserts 32. Bolt retention nuts securethe bolts to the trucks 104. The top cap 38 is removably attached to thesupport 36 to allow for access to the cavity 34, for example whenattaching, removing, replacing or adjusting the placement of the support36 to the deck and truck 104 of the board 101. According to anembodiment, the top cap 38 has an annular snap-fit feature around itsperimeter to connect with the vertical side-wall of the cavity 34. Thetop cap 38 can be retained by other means such as being press fit orclipped into the cavity 34.

FIG. 24 illustrates the rear inclined support 36 in perspective viewattached to the tail end of an E-board with the top cap 38 attached inplace over the cavity 34. The cavity 34 which houses the slotted 37 partis capped to form a substantially horizontal top fastening section,similar to the horizontal fastening sections 9A, 29A of thenon-laterally adjustable supports 1, 20. This fastening section of thesupport 36 expectedly has a longer length than the non-adjustableversions to accommodate the length of the adjustment slots 37.

FIG. 25 shows the top plan view of the longitudinally adjustable rearinclined support 36 and the front support 35 setup installed on theE-board, each with top cap 38 covering the slotted 37 parts of thesupports. Foot placement indicators 40, 42 are shown, where the frontfoot indicator 42 is positioned at a slight angle in the direction ofmovement.

FIGS. 25A-E illustrate an embodiment of the rear inclined support 36comprising a pair of off-center cupped portions 14 which aresymmetrically positioned at a cupping angle 45 from the centerline. Thestart of each cupped portion 14 begins at the cupping angle 45 which isanywhere from 15 to 35 degrees from a centerline reference axis throughthe length of the support. In a preferred embodiment, the cupping angle45 is at 30 degrees from the centerline axis on each side. Each cuppedportion 14 extends parallel to the cupping angle 45 through a length ofa main inclined section 46 as shown in FIG. 25D. According to anembodiment, the main inclined section 46 has an incline angle of about12 degrees as shown in FIG. 25B, the side lip angles 47 are the same atabout 4.4 degrees with respect to the horizontal bottom surface 48 asshown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 25E taken along the A-A lineof FIG. 25D. Given the symmetry of the structure of the rear support 36,there is no clocking angle present as may be contemplated for the frontinclined support 35 since the rear foot typically is perpendicular tothe direction of motion in most rider stances. Also, the rear foot doesnot need as much specific contoured support since it does not contributeto the steering as much as the front foot.

FIGS. 25F-K illustrate an embodiment of the front inclined support 35comprising an off-center cupped portion 33 which is asymmetricallypositioned at a cupping angle 45 from the centerline. The front inclinedsupport 35 is configured for a right-foot-forward, goofy stance. Thestart of the cupped portion 33 begins at the cupping angle 45 whichanywhere from 15 to 35 degrees from a centerline reference axis throughthe length of the support. In a preferred embodiment, the cupping angle45 is at 30 degrees from the centerline. The cupped portion 33 extendsparallel to the cupping angle 45 through a length of a main inclinedsection 49 as shown in FIG. 25H. According to an embodiment, the maininclined section 49 has an incline angle of about 14 degrees as shown inFIGS. 25J and 25K, the side lip angles also differ at about 4.9 degreeson the left side lip angle 47A and about 4.6 degrees on the right sidelip angle 47B, measured with respect to the horizontal bottom surface 48as shown in the cross sectional view of FIG. 25I taken along the A-Aline of FIG. 25H. As further shown in FIG. 25H the leading edge 24 ofthe front support 35 is swept at a main angle of about 14 degrees 49 upthe incline's top face with an about 30 degree angle cupped portion 33and a clocking angle 18 of about 14 degrees inward from a horizontalaxis aligned with the outermost point of the leading/front edge 24. Asshown in the left side view of FIG. 25K, due to the cupping angle ofabout 30 degrees in which the cupped portion 33 cuts in closer to theleft side edge 21A boundary than to the right side edge 21B, a smallerangle of incline is produced at the left side edge 21A than the mainangle 49. This smaller angle may be about 9 degrees from the base to thetop surface of the left side edge 21A.

According to embodiments, the top surface may have multiple centralplanar inclined sections and the cupped portion 33 is a fillet along theedge between the side lip (side edge 21A or 21B) and the central inclineplanar sections (e.g. main inclined section 49) of the top surface.Other concave shapes are contemplated in other embodiments, as long asno part of the contours of the cupped portion 33 extend higher than thetallest, steepest inclined plane at the top surface.

FIG. 26 illustrates a perspective view of a multi-part support 50attached to the deck 101 of the board according to an embodiment of theinvention. In this embodiment, there are at least two primary componentswhich include the base component 55 and the inclined support component51. Other embodiments may be envisioned with additional supportcomponents. The base component 55 remains attached to the board deck 101at all times, allowing the rider to more accessibly swap on and offdifferent incline shapes without having to undo the two truckbolts/screws and nuts (not shown) that mount the base component 55 viathe base component holes 56 to the trucks of the board. Other means offastening or securing/joining the base component 55 to the board deckare envisioned in other embodiments.

The inclined component 51 which may resemble a support wedge isremovably attachable to the base component 55. The inclined supportcomponent 51 portion can be swapped with different incline shapes orremoved completely. Such versatility allows the rider to choose betweenhaving an incline or to free up the deck space for the rider's foot andride on a normal deck platform. In this embodiment, the base component55 and the inclined support component 51, positioned on the rear of theboard, are positioned inboard or in front of the rear truck 104.

FIG. 27 illustrates an exploded view of the multi-part support 50 asillustrated in FIG. 26. The multi-part support 50 components include theinclined support component 51, bolts/screws 52, inserts 53, boltretention nuts 54, and the base component 55. In this embodiment, thebolts 52, inserts 53, and bolt fasteners 54 shown here are used toeasily attach the inclined support component 51 to the base component55. As shown in this embodiment (see also FIGS. 32 and 33), the inclinedsupport component 51 has a pair of receiving holes/openings 57 whichalign above another pair of receiving holes/openings 58 on the basecomponent 55. The receiving holes 57 on the inclined support componentreceive the inserts 53 and the bolts 52. The receiving holes 58 on thebase component 55 terminate near the deck with a shape for receiving thecaptive/press fitted nuts 54. For example, before the base components 55is installed, a hex nut 54 is placed inside the receiving hole 55 beforethe support component 51 is attached using the bolts 52 such that thebolts engage the nut 54.

FIGS. 28-29 illustrate a side view and a top rear perspective view ofthe multi-part support 50 embodiment of FIG. 26. In this embodiment, thebase component 55 and the removably attached inclined support component51 are positioned inboard or in front of the rear truck 104. FIG. 30illustrates a top perspective view of the rear base component 55 withoutany support incline 51 attached and a foot placement indicator 40showing relative location of the rider's foot with respect to the basecomponent 55. FIG. 31. illustrates a top plan view of the multi-partsupport 50 installed on the deck of the board. This view shows the rearbase component 55 with a removably attached inclined support component51 and foot placement indicators 40 for both feet of the rider.

FIGS. 32-33 illustrate a top perspective exploded view and bottomperspective exploded view of the multi-part support 50 embodimentillustrated in FIG. 26. These views better illustrate the fastening ofthe multi-part support 50 components which include the inclined supportcomponent 51, bolts 52, inserts 53, retention nuts 54, and the basecomponent 55. The bolts 52 are inserted into the inserts 53 into thereceiving holes 57 of the inclined support component 51. The bolts 52engage the nuts 54 which are positioned inside the receiving holes 58 ofthe base component 55. While the base component 55 is attached to thedeck/trucks via the base component holes 56, similarly to the way thesupports 1, 20 are attached through the existing deck/truck openings 60,the inclined support component 51 is not fastened directly to the deckbut instead fastened to the base component 55, allowing for easyreplacement/change. Other means of fastening or securing/joining theinclined support component 51 to the base component 55 are envisioned inother embodiments.

The inclined supports 1, 20, 35, 36, as well as the primary componentsof the multi-part support 50 (incline component 51 and base component55) are each manufactured as a single/static piece, which can bemachined, molded or crafted, and can be constructed of metal, plastics,rubber, foam, wood, carbon fiber, fiber glass, fluid filledpockets/vessels or other material composite bodies or combinationsthereof. The bottom surface of each of the supports which contact thetop surface of the board, while shown as substantially horizontal/flatmay also be manufactured/pre-formed with a custom-profiled or curvedbottom surface 70 to correspond with a curvature of a board and helppreload the inclined support to the deck's top surface. FIG. 34illustrates a side profile of the how the bottom surface 70 of thesupport body is curved in order to preload the incline against the deckwhen fastened down. The top surface fastening section, for example thesurface 39 above the slotted inserts 32, may be angled as well forsaving weight.

As described above, the supports comprise single or multi directionalsloped incline sections. Any of the surfaces of the inclined supports,may further comprise a gripped surface or include grip tape. As shown inFIG. 35 a top plan view of the support body illustrates a grip patternedsurface according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thepatterned features 80 may be hexagonal shaped as shown, and may berecessed or extruded from the top surface so as to provide more grip tothe contact surface of the support. As further shown in FIG. 36 whichillustrates the bottom plan view of the inclined support body and FIG.37 which illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the AA-AA line,a pattern is incorporated to reduce the overall weight of the support.In order to reduce the weight of the support, lightening pockets 85 (inthis embodiment circular in shape) are patterned on the underside toremove material from the core of the inclined body. This patterninghelps reduce weight as well as reduce the stiffness of the inclinesection which depending on the material properties and dimensions helpsprovide a softer feeling when the rider presses their foot on thesupport.

In another embodiment, the support may be configured for fitting acustom designed deck with specific fastening schemes pre-designed suchas extra mounting holes for bolts, T-hats/nuts or threaded inserts forattaching the foot supports to the deck instead of using any of theexisting four truck holes on each tail or nose end of the board.

The foot supports of the embodiments shown above are intended asaccessories that are removably installed on the original deck ofmotorized boards. Each of the supports allow the rider to safely andcomfortably distribute the rider's reaction forces on their feet to theboard's motion. Use of the support relieves riders from excessivelyleaning or other positions that compensate for the acceleration or whichplace their ankles in awkward angles. The supports provide the riderstability and control by creating a more horizontal surface to ride uponwhile on sloped, hill surfaces. For example, improved rider reactionforce distribution is obtained via the rear inclined support duringacceleration or on uphill climbs and obtained via the front inclinedsupport during deceleration/braking or when going downhill. The supportsare non-restrictive as the rider is free to move their foot off any ofthe supports to the regular portion of the deck whenever desired andeasily back onto the support(s) whenever angled support is desired.

It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the supports may compriseother features including electronics, reflectors, lights, speakers, orother typical skating accessories for purposes of rider safety or boardprotection, night riding enjoyment or other activities. In otherembodiments of the present invention, there is an E-board comprising atleast one inclined support apparatus; or an E-board comprising twoinclined support apparatus. In other embodiments, it is envisioned thatthe supports may be integrated as accessories for other types of boardsused in other motorized boarding activities, for example scooteringwhere the rider desires the angled support duringacceleration/deceleration but to still maintain the freedom of footmovement.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that,based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention and their broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims areintended to encompass within their scope all such changes andmodifications as are within the true spirit and scope of these exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An inclined support apparatus that is integratedto a motorized board, providing a rider stability during accelerationand during deceleration on sloped and flat surfaces, configured toreceive foot pressure by the rider at a top surface of the supportapparatus, the support apparatus comprising: a support body having a topsurface, a bottom surface, a left side edge, a right side edge, a firstedge and a second edge, wherein the first and second edges define alength of the support body and wherein the left side edge and right sideedge define a width of the support body; at least one inclined sectionat the top surface along the length of the support body, wherein abeginning of the inclined section begins nearer to the first edge andinclines toward the second edge, and at least one concave depressionwithin the inclined section; and wherein the first edge is a leadingedge that is positioned closer to a center of the board than the secondedge which faces an end of the board; and wherein a side viewthickness-profile of the board, measured where the support body isintegrated to a shape of the board, is larger than a side viewthickness-profile measured along a majority of a length of the board. 2.The support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneconcave depression at the top surface begins at an angle away from acenterline axis which runs through the length of the support body. 3.The support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the top surfacecomprises a second concave depression laterally opposite the at leastone concave depression.
 4. The support apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the at least one concave depression and the second concavedepression are symmetrically positioned.
 5. The support apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the support body across thewidth of the support body is thicker at the right and left side edgesthan at the center.
 6. The support apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a thickness of the support body at the right side edge isdifferent from a thickness of the support body at the left side edge. 7.The support apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the support body isasymmetrical across the length of the support body such that the firstedge extends, at a clocking angle, inward toward the second edge from ahorizontal axis aligned with an outermost point of the first edge,beginning from the right side edge or the left side edge.
 8. The supportapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of thesupport body that is in contact with a top of the board is pre-formedwith a concave surface.
 9. The support apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a fastening means for removably or permanentlysecuring the support body to the board.
 10. The support apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the support body is manufactured as astatic, single piece.
 11. The support apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the support body comprises at least two distinct piecesincluding a base component for mounting the support body to the boardand an inclined support component comprising the top surface, the rightside edge, the left side edge and the first edge, wherein the inclinedsupport component is removably attachable to the base component.
 12. Thesupport apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support body is formed ofmetal, plastic, rubber, foam, carbon fiber, fiber glass, fluid filledpockets or vessels or other natural or synthetic material compositebodies or combinations thereof.
 13. The support apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the top surface of the support body comprises atextured surface providing grip.
 14. The support apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the top surface terminates at the second edge with asubstantially horizontal section.
 15. The support apparatus of claim 14,further comprising at least one receiving hole in the substantiallyhorizontal section, through which the support body is attached to theboard through holes on the board.
 16. The support apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the substantially horizontal section comprises one ormore adjustment slots configured to provide locational positioning ofthe support body before securing the support body to the board.
 17. Thesupport apparatus of claim 1, wherein the board is an E-board.
 18. AnE-board comprising at least one inclined support apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the support body is located inboard of two trucks ofthe board, inclusive of directly above the trucks.
 19. The E-board ofclaim 18, wherein the inclined support apparatus further comprises afastening means for securing the support body to a deck of the board.20. The E-board of claim 18, wherein the inclined support apparatusfurther comprises a fastening means for securing the support body to atleast one of the two trucks of the board.